Smaller gar?

[Polypterus]

To answer the OP's question, I believe the smallest true gar would be the Spotted. I might be wrong on that point.

But there is no gar suitable for a 55 gallon aquarium. Try pike characins.

Yep your wrong on that...

And all gar are suitable for a 55 at some point in their life also. Might even be the best to keep them in a 55 at times. Is that permanent? no not typically. But they may be housed for some time in such a tank. Conditions are highly variable on that.

 

[Madding]

Yep your wrong on that...

And all gar are suitable for a 55 at some point in their life also. Might even be the best to keep them in a 55 at times. Is that permanent? no not typically. But they may be housed for some time in such a tank. Conditions are highly variable on that.

What is the correct answer then, from snout to tail, of the smallest gar?

Also, I can't think of many freshwater fish that aren't suitable for a 55 gallon tank during a point in their life, but a grow-out tank wasn't the vibe I got from the OP's question.

 

[MonsterMinis]

perhaps I'm wrong.. but footprint wise.. a 55 isn't anymore suitable even as a grow-out copasity for most gars?.. I'm glad I put my FL in a 40 breeder opposed to a 55.. the gallons are indeed smaller.. but my gar can easily turn around w/out issue even growing as fast as he is. a 55's depth isn't going to last more then perhaps 6 months?.. even if you start w/ a tiny baby... and if you start w/ a tiny baby they are fragile enough you couldn't realistically keep it w/ much for tank-mates? I went from a 20long.. to the 40breeder.. then soon a 300 gallon stock tank (round,oval) with plans on having a indoor pond/450+ tank. I'm not saying a 55 wouldn't or couldn't work.. but w/ the lack of bend and the worry of spine or snout dmg.. and the abundent gallonage to "torpedo" from one end to the other.. isn't an ideal concoction? I'm still very new but from what I've been told, and research, w/ abit of deductive reasoning I'm not sure a 55 is a "good" footprint ever for these guys w/ maybe the exception of multiple gar in a grow-out for the extra gallonage it would afford for water quality.. and if haveing multiple grow-outs I'de hope the person has either had experiance or done alot of research into the husbandry, and know what dangers having these fish possesses? and please correct me if I am wrong. learning is a great thing.

 

[mcredimus]

i agree. the 40 breederis what i started my gars in because of its more squareish shape. as far as smallest gar.... with the alligator being the largest the other species are relatively close. the problem to solve is because of the gars shape. its a long torpedo shaped fish so it needs a tank large enough for the gar to turn around.

 

[Polypterus]

Gar are actually very flexible, They really do not have issues turning around all that much.. A 55 standard can also be used just fine to grow out gar. If it was not then I would not suggest it. I actually use far smaller tanks regularly as well. (I grow out 1 inch fish in gallon jars or 2.5 gallon tanks with about an inch of water )The key to growing out any gar is flexibility in resources and knowing when to move them. It is called stepped transitioning and it works very well. A whole lot of threads here and on AP have covered this aspect of Gar husbandry

Top pic shows all of these fish in a 55 gallon standard grow out tank. Not much problem here and all of the fish are around 10 inches.
Bottom pic is a Juvenile Gar growout tank done right.. Guess the size..

 

[Polypterus]

What is the correct answer then, from snout to tail, of the smallest gar?

The problem with this question is it does not actually have an answer. They can all fit this description to some extent. Smallest gar is the one genetically predisposed to be a small fish. One can not use Wild Max sizes in figuring this and it is only really possible to use an observed average for Aquaria raised fish.

If one takes reported sizes and crunches them down into an expected average you get something like this:

Atractosteus:
Alligator gar (A. spatula): 15 to 24 inches first year. 4 to 5 foot average adult size
Tropical gar (A. tropicus) 12 to 15 inches first year, 2.5 foot average adult size
Cuban gar ( A. tristoechus) 12 to 15 inches first year, 3 foot average adult size (Unestablished due to lack of sample size)

Lepisosteus:
Longnosed gar (L.osseus) 12 to 14 inches first year, 2.5 to 3 foot adult size
Shortnosed gar (L. platostomus) 12 to 14 inches first year, 2 foot adult size
Spotted gar (L. oculatus) 12 inches first year, 2.5 foot adult size
Florida gar (L. platyrhincus) 12 inches first year, 2 foot adult size

It needs to be clearly under stood that there are Smaller than these listed and Larger than these listed. Take it with a grain of salt as results may vary.